Thomas and Helen Lupardo celebrate 60th wedding anniversary

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Married 60 years, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lupardo of Sunnyside celebrated their special anniversary surrounded by family and friends at a party in DaNoi Restaurant, Fort Wadsworth.

The couple met while both were employed at Merrimac Novelty Co. in Rossville, where he worked in the maintenance department and she was an artificial flower packer.

Their marriage took place on Jan. 18, 1953 in St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, Rosebank.

Mrs. Lupardo, 81, the former Helen Kish, was born and raised in Tottenville and is an alumna of Tottenville High School.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas LupardoFamily Photo

She worked for a few years and after marrying, spent time at home raising her family. When she returned to work, she began a 20-year employment with the Department of Education’s Food Services in the lunchroom at St. Theresa’s School, Castleton Corners. She retired in 1987.

She enjoys craft projects, embroidery and baking, and was a finalist in the Delicious Desserts category in the 2006 Staten Island Advance Cookbook.

Mr. Lupardo, 83, was born in Rosebank and graduated from McKee Vocational High School. He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1954. Stationed in Newfoundland, he was a machinist assigned to the motor pool.

Upon his discharge from the service, Mr. Lupardo embarked on a 26-year career with the city’s Department of Sanitation. He was a foreman at the time of his retirement in 1979.

Mr. Lupardo cheers for the New York Yankees and Giants. He is the family handyman and tends to his home garden.

Mr. and Mrs. Lupardo enjoy vacationing along the East Coast and have visited Canada.

They are the parents of Thomas Jr. of Harrisburg, Pa., and Maryann Correa of Sunnyside, and have two grandchildren.